Bearcats host Panthers in clash of ranked Big East rivals

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The 17th-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats will try
to rebound from a tough loss as they open up a three-game homestand with a Big
East Conference clash against the No. 23 Pittsburgh Panthers at Fifth Third
Arena.

The Panthers are riding a wave of momentum into this contest with wins in six
of their last eight games. The most recent accomplishment was a 56-46 victory
against Seton Hall which came on the heels of a 65-55 win over then No. 6
Syracuse. Pittsburgh is 19-5 overall, while sporting a 7-4 mark in league
play, tied with St. John's for fifth in the standings. Pittsburgh has been
decent on the road with a record of 3-2 in five trips but will play another
away contest next Saturday against Marquette.

Cincinnati went into Providence on Wednesday and came out on the short end of
a 54-50 decision. The loss ended a stretch in which the Bearcats had won five
of six contests with the lone loss a two-point setback against Syracuse in the
Carrier Dome. Cincinnati is now 18-5 overall and likely to drop in the
national rankings come Monday. At Fifth Third Area, where they will play their
next two games as well, the Bearcats are 10-3.

This is a rematch of battle on New Year's Eve when Cincinnati captured a 70-61
win on the road. That was the second straight for Cincinnati against the
Panthers, who have won seven of the last 10 matchups overall. In terms of the
al-time series this season's win pushed the Bearcats ahead, 9-8.

Jamie Dixon's squad put forth another strong effort on the defensive end to
take care of Seton Hall. The Panthers allowed the Pirates to collect just
seven field goals in each half, while holding them to 33.3 percent shooting
overall. The Panthers shot just 34.8 percent themselves but created extra
possessions with a 15-7 edge in offensive rebounds and a 40-28 advantage in
boards overall.

Locking up the opposition has been normal procedure for Pittsburgh this
season. The Panthers are allowing the fifth fewest points per game in the
country (54.5 ppg), while ranking among the top 20 teams nationally in
opponent assists (9.8 pg) and rebounds (27.5 pg). The Panthers have countered
by shooting .484 from the floor, while handing out 17.2 apg. The efficiency
has been headlined by the play of Tray Woodall (10.8 ppg, 5.4 apg) who is not
only the top scorer on the roster, but its lead distributor. Talib Zanna (10.5
ppg, 5.9 rpg) and Lamar Patterson (10.2 ppg, 3.2 apg) also average in double
figures though the Panthers prefer a more spread out attack.

In its loss to Providence, Cincinnati trailed by as many as 13 points late in
the second half. The Bearcats ripped off a 12-0 run down the stretch to pull
within 47-46 with 3:25 remaining but they were never able to get over the
hump. Cincinnati shot at just a 37.5 percent clip in the loss. Leading scorer
Sean Kilpatrick had 13 points but shot 5-of-14 overall and 1-of-8 from 3-point
range.

The Bearcats will be right in their comfort zone against a defensive-minded
team like Pittsburgh. Cincinnati is allowing just 58.6 points per game on 37.6
percent shooting this season which has it ranked among the top 30 teams in the
country in both categories. Controlling the boards has been a major key to the
Bearcats' success as they rank at the top of the Big East in rebounds (41.9
ppg). Offensively the Bearcats are a less efficient squad, shooting 42 percent
from the field, while managing to net 71.3 points per game. Kilpatrick (18.3
ppg, 5.3 rpg) has been the go-to option all season for Cincinnati, ranking
third in the conference in scoring. Cashmere Wright (13.9 ppg, 3.4 apg) and
JaQuon Parker (10.7 ppg) join him in the backcourt, while Cheikh Mbodj
(5.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 bpg) is one of the conference's best shot blockers in
the paint.